Study looks at improving Harleston Leisure Centre

Plans to revamp a leisure centre in a Norfolk town have taken a step forward as a feasibility study gets under way.

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Redenhall with Harleston Town Council agreed in October to spend up to £7,000 on professional advice about improving the leisure centre and making wider use of it as a community centre, after councillors were told that grants were available for community projects carried out by local builders.

They found out at the town council meeting on Wednesday that the Norfolk County Council grants were “over-subscribed”, but decided to proceed with the feasibility study anyway.

Town council chairman Eric Bird said: “We’ve been told that the money is over-subscribed but we can still go ahead with the project because, even if there isn’t any money coming from the county council, we’ll find other sources of funding.”

Town clerk Margot Harbour told councillors that the company Ingleton Wood had been contracted to undertake the study looking at potential improvements to the leisure centre, and that she and the deputy clerk had met with Andrew Warman and Hamish Cooper to discuss the brief and timescales.

The brief includes, among other things, looking at (above the gym): mezzanine flooring above the gym; a false ceiling, with insulation above it to reduce heat loss; use of space to accommodate productions, functions, conferences, meeting rooms; acoustic screening; installation of windows to provide natural light (upper level); throughway formulated from the upper corridor of the squash courts through to new area and existing social club; accessibility, including platform lift.

It will also look at the social club, including a new false ceiling, with insulation; rewiring; installation of a kitchen (for reheating food only); restructuring of the toilets to meet accessibility requirements; and potential amendments to the bar area.

The feasibility report is due to be completed by February 4 so the recreation committee can view it and so it can go to full council the following week.